This invention is a replacement lighting system for signs that can include a first lighting assembly having led strips disposed on opposite sides. The lighting assembly can be rotatably attached to the lamp holders. A hub can be removably connected to an external power supply, a first lighting assembly and a second lighting assembly. The lighting system can be used to replace existing lighting such as fluorescent tubes and accompanying ballasts without the need to understand remove or rewire the sign electrical components other than attaching the lighting system to the power source. The lighting assemblies can be rotated in the lamp holders to reduce or remove hot spots or dark areas. Multiple lighting assemblies can be connected end to end and be in electrical communication with the power source without necessarily needing to wire each lighting assembly to the power source.
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17. A lighting system comprising:
a first hub removably connected to a power supply;
a first lighting assembly attached to the first hub and having a first light connector connected to a driver, a first led strip connected to the driver and disposed on a first side of the first lighting assembly and a second led strip connected to the driver and disposed on an opposite side of first lighting assembly;
a rotatable cap attached to an end of the first lighting assembly configured to allow the first lighting assembly to rotate relative to a lamp holder in a sign housing;
a second hub connected to the first hub; and,
a second lighting assembly connected to the second hub wherein the power supply, first hub, first lighting assembly, second hub, and second lighting assembly form an electrical circuit.
10. A lighting system for a sign comprising:
an external power supply;
a first hub removably connected to the external power supply;
a first lighting assembly attached to the first hub and having a support structure, a cavity defined in the support structure, a driver received in the cavity, a first led strip connected to the driver and disposed on a first side of the support structure and a second led strip connected to the driver and disposed on an opposite side of the support structure;
a rotatable cap attached to an end of the first lighting assembly, received in a lamp holder of a sigh housing and configured to allow the first lighting assembly to rotate relative to the lamp holder;
a second hub removably connected to the first hub; and,
a second lighting assembly connected to the second hub wherein the external power supply, first hub, first lighting assembly, second hub, and second lighting assembly form an electrical circuit.
1. A lighting system for a sign comprising:
a first lighting assembly having a support structure, a cavity defined in the support structure, a first led strip disposed on a first side of the support structure and a second led strip disposed on an opposite side of the support structure;
an end cap assembly including a fixed cap and a rotatable cap attached to an end of the support structure;
an end connector attached to the rotatable cap concealing a pin connector carried by the support structure;
a first driver disposed in the cavity and in electrical communications with the first led strip and the second led strip;
an initial connector configured be connected to an external power supply;
a first light connector carried by the support structure and connected to the first driver;
a second light connector carried by the support structure and connected to the first driver;
a first hub removably connected to the initial connector by a first extension cord and removably connected to the first light connecter by a second extension cord; and,
a second hub removably connected to the second light connector and a second lighting assembly.
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This invention is directed to a power source agnostic replacement for a lighting assembly tube that can be used to replace traditional fluorescent lighting such as in commercial signs.
A fluorescent lamp, well known in the art, is typically a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. The lamp is constructed by providing a tube filled with a gas containing low pressure mercury vapor and argon, xenon, neon, or krypton. An electrical current excites vapor which results in a short-wave ultraviolet light. This UV light causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to glow providing light. Fluorescent lamp tubes are typically straight, have a rounded cross section, and have a length in the range of about 4 inches to about 8 feet. Because each lamp is an enclosed tube typically containing mercury, breaking the tube can release the mercury creating a health danger. Further, some fluorescent tubes emit UV radiation. In one study, UV radiation emitted by fluorescent lighting was found to potentially increase an individual's exposure to carcinogenic radiation by 10 to 30 percent per year which is associated with an increased probability of contracting squamous cell carcinoma. There is also evidence that flickering from fluorescent lamps can cause seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy, but there has yet to be any evidence to date attributing seizures to compact fluorescent lamps. Therefore, there have been attempts to replace fluorescent lamps with an economical substitute with reduced risks and equal or improved power consumption characteristics and performance.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,628 is directed to an elongated hollow tubular or solid rod lighting device including a plurality of LEDs therewith and appropriate electrical componentry and serving as a direct replacement for a conventional fluorescent light tube in a conventional fluorescent lighting fixture. It is designed to have the appropriate connector pins extending from each end thereof, enabling the device to be installed in a conventional fluorescent lighting fixture with no modification to the fixture. The light may include appropriate electrical componentry such as a step-down transformer to provide the required voltage for the LEDs, either integrally within the light, incorporated in an end cap thereof, or installed separately therefrom in the fixture, as desired. U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,830 is also directed to a LED replacement of fluorescent light without modifications to the fixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,502,454 is directed to various apparatuses and methods for replacing a fluorescent lamp with a non-fluorescent tube including an electrical connector adapted to electrically connect to a fluorescent lamp fixture, a DC rectifier connected to the electrical connector, a voltage converter connected to the DC rectifier, and a non-fluorescent light source connected to the voltage converter. The DC rectifier, voltage converter, and non-fluorescent light source are substantially contained within a housing that is physically configured to replace the fluorescent lamp in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,361 is directed to light source that is adapted to replace existing fluorescent tubes in an existing fluorescent light fixture. The light source includes a plurality of LEDs mounted on a heat-dissipating structure, first and second plug adapters that mate with the florescent tube connectors of the fluorescent tube the light source is to replace, and a power adapter that converts power from a fluorescent tube ballast presented on the first and second plug adapters to DC power that powers the LEDs. The light source is powered from the output of the existing fluorescent ballast.
However, these solutions require that the ballast of the fluorescent assembly remain in the structure. Further, the connection of the end of the replacement is required to be in the same pin configuration of the original fluorescent tube. Further, the use of LED lighting is typically done with a LED lighting strip thereby making lighting requirements needing two-sided light projection difficult. Further, given the projection of LED lighting, the ability to rotate and direct the light beam would be advantageous. Fluorescent lighting has 360-degree projection so that the aiming of the light is not needed for surrounding light projection.
Further, the sign or housing that contains the lights can have one or more wiring systems such as when a sign is rewired, the original wiring may not be removed. This results in a situation where the electrician or other individual tasked with installing new lights, repairing lights or signs, replacing lights, or upgrading lights has to first determine the power in, the proper wires to use in a sign housing, and which wires to connect to the new lighting assembly. This task takes time and can result in increased chance of electrical wiring mistakes. Further, there is no standard wiring configuration for sign housings so that the power supply could be located about anywhere within the sign housing from the external power source. It would be advantageous to have a lighting assembly that could serve as a replacement lighting assembly that was not dependent upon any particular power source location or existing wiring system in a sign housing.
Further, traditional lighting housings for fluorescent lights have specific discrete attachment locations for lighting tubes that are affixed to the housing as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,327. This housing design does not allow for changing the location or the number of lighting assembly in a housing without rewiring the housing itself. For example, in the housing shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,327, there are mounts or connectors for two lighting assembly. To add a third lighting assembly would require that there be an additional set of mounts or connectors attached to the housing and that the existing wiring system be modified to add wiring for the third lighting assembly.
In fluorescent lighting, the technology for lighting tubes was the T12. This technology is on the decline, but nevertheless millions of tubes still exist. Its decline has been accelerated through funding and incentives that shortened the payback period for replacement projects. Further, technology advancements improving rare-earth phosphors and electronic ballasts produced a T8 lamp-ballast system that provides for better color rendering, longer life, and improved efficiency. Further, the T8 lamp can fit into the standard socket configuration of T12 as long as the lamp lengths are the same.
The resulting disadvantage is that the majority of the installed T12 lamps are 8 feet in length, making it troublesome and even dangerous to store, handle and manipulate the T12 lamp or even the T8 lamp as this 8-foot length. For example, the standard door is 80 inches in height or 6 feet 8 inches making manipulating an 8-foot lamp through a door challenging. When a fluorescent lamp is broken, such as the eight-foot T12, there are health risks due to the use of mercury that can exist in vapor and a solid upon breakage. In fact, one study shows that it would take over 20 minutes in a fan ventilated room for the mercury released from a broken fluorescent tube to dissipate to normal levels. Therefore, there is a significant need to reduce the damages of broken T12 lamps.
Additionally, there are some older T12 ballasts that contain PCBs. PCBs are contained within the fluorescent light ballast's capacitors and interior potting material of older magnetic T12 lighting fixtures causing them to be hazardous to human health. Additionally, intact PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts may emit small amounts of PCBs into the air during normal use of the lighting fixtures. EPA recommends all PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts be removed from lighting fixtures.
Additionally, Department of Energy regulations have virtually eliminated the new installation of T12 technology so that replacement parts of these existing lighting system as becoming increasingly hard to come by. This reduction in supply has led to increased costs of replacement parts. The result of these health risks, regulatory pressures and financial disincentives is that lighting system has been replaced to eliminate these older systems. For example, United Kingdom Patent GB 2,447,257 discloses a one-piece assembly retro-fit replacement lamp for fluorescent light fitting device with external Light Emitting Diode (LED) light panel and an internally housed LED power supply unit designed to allow the assembly to be installed into an existing fluorescent light fitting to replace the existing light source with a LED light source. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,450 discloses ballast adaptor circuit which makes it possible to convert a conventional two lamp rapid start T12 ballast for operation of two T8 fluorescent lamps and by means of a simple modification that does not require cutting wires or extensive rewiring of the T12 ballast device.
However, none of these attempts solve the problems with reducing the length of the lamp below 8 feet and improving performance, using the existing reflector and housing and existing power supply. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,342,570 discloses fluorescent lighting fixtures of the kind having a lamp circuit; embodied therein including a plurality of lamp holders and a replaceable current-limiting device, commonly called a ballast. The initial designs included gas discharge lamps using simple chokes in order to limit the current of the gas discharge which is now known to have disadvantages. The disadvantages are due, in part, to the operation of lamps at the customary power frequency of 50 or 60 Hz causing the lights to flicker at these frequencies resulting in stroboscopic effects. Patent '570 disclose an attempt to convert these lighting systems to electronic high-frequency operation.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a replacement lighting system for fluorescent tubes regardless of end connectors, length, or orientation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a replacement lighting system where the light projection can be configured.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a lighting system that can be installed regardless of the position within a sign housing or existing wiring system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a retrofitting system to replace T12 and other harmful lighting system components with the newer T8 and other more efficient lamps.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a retrofitting system that can provide for the use of shorter lamps, such as 4 feet, without changing the housing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a retrofitting system that is minimally effects by the various components of the original lighting system.
The present invention is directed to a lighting system that can replace an existing lights and wiring in a sign comprising: a first lighting assembly having a support structure, a cavity defined in the support structure, a first LED strip disposed on a first side of the support structure and a second LED strip disposed on an opposite side of the support structure; an end cap assembly including a fixed cap and a rotatable cap attached to an end of the support structure; an end connector attached to the rotatable cap concealing a pin connector carried by the support structure; a first driver disposed in the cavity and in electrical communications with the first LED strip and the second LED strip; an initial connector configured be connected to an external power supply; a first light connector carried by the support structure and connected to the first driver; a second light connector carried by the support structure and connected to the first driver; first hub removably connected to the initial connector by a first extension cord and removably connected to the first light connecter by a second extension cord; and, a second hub removably connected to the second light connector and a second lighting assembly.
The invention can include an extension cord removably connected between the first hub and the first light connector, an extension cord can be removably connected between the first hub and the initial connector and a cap attached to the first hub. The invention can include a hub extension included in the first hub.
A joint can connect the first lighting assembly to the second lighting assembly in a lengthwise configuration. A first wiring clip can be attached to the first lighting assembly and a second wiring clip can be attached to the second lighting assembly wherein the first wiring clip and the second wiring clip define an electrical connection between the first lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly and are disposed in a tray defined in the joint. A threaded connector having a first threaded end attached to the first lighting assembly and a second threaded end attached to the second lighting assembly to can connect the first lighting connector and the second lighting connector. A first electrical connector can be carried by the first lighting assembly and a second electrical connector carried by the second lighting assembly configured to form an electrical connection between the first lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly.
The invention can include an initial connector removably connected between the external power supply and the first hub, a second extension cord removably connected between the first hub and the second hub, and a third extension cord removably connected between the second hub and the second light assembly.
The invention can include a third lighting assembly removably connected to the second hub. The first lighting assembly and second lighting assembly can be configured to reduce hot spots and dark areas by rotating the first lighting assembly and second lighting assembly in the sign housing. The power supply, first hub, first lighting assembly, second hub, and second lighting assembly can be connected in parallel in an electrical circuit. A third lighting assembly can be connected to an end of the second lighting assembly and in electrical communications with the second lighting assembly.
The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:
With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to
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In one configuration, both the first lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly include electrical connectors in their respective openings. The joint can include joint electrical connectors that, when contacting the electrical connectors of the first lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly, provide for electrical communications between the first lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly.
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A cross section along A-A is shown with the “U” cross section 240 of the adapter plate in one embodiment, and the lamp holders 242 extending from a channel area 246 defined between the adapter plate and the mounting assembly, externally through adapter plate to a lamp area 248. The adapter plate can be placed over the replacement wiring assembly, ballast and over at least a portion of the starter in one embodiment.
In one embodiment can include two lamp holders at the first and second ends. The middle section can include lamp holder that are designed to hold the end of two lamps each disposed about 180° to each other. By using these two types of lamp holders, the longer lamps such as the 8-foot T12 can be replaced with two shorter lamps such as 4-foot T8 lamps. The lamp holders are attached to the replacement wiring assembly, received in the adapter plate and the adapter place attached to the mounting assembly, housing, reflector or any combination.
In one embodiment, the adapter plate is designed to be used to replace 8-foot lamps with two 4-foot lamps. In order to facilitate the storage, shipping and handling of the adapter plate, the first section, middle section, second section or any combination can be removable attached to each other. In one embodiment, to facilitate the consistency of the length of the adapter plate when installed, the sections are slideably connected at one or more points. The connections can be disposed generally at any position along the adapter plate. In one embodiment, one section 250 can receive the adjacent section 252 and the two-section secured allowing the shorter sections to be stored and transported and assembled into an adapter plate that can a longer length than any one section and 8 feet or longer in one embodiment. A middle securing plate 254 can be included so that the first section and the second section attached to the middle securing plate providing for an adapter plate that is the length of the two attached sections. The plates and section described herein can include pre-drilled or pre-tapped holes so that the length of the assembled adapter plate can be consistently obtained. The various plates and section can include stops that allow the length of the assembled adapter plate to be consistently obtained. Two sections can also be joined with fish plates, cross plates connectors, “C” shaped brackets, “L” shaped brackets, and the like.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter belongs. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are herein described.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can meet certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all its respects, to every aspect of this invention. As such, the preceding objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of this invention. These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples. However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention. While the invention is described herein with reference to several specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative of the invention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention. Various modifications and applications may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as described by the appended claims. Likewise, other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from this summary and certain embodiments described below, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above in conjunction with the accompanying examples, data, figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, alone or with consideration of the references incorporated herein.
Unless specifically stated, terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.
Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific exemplary embodiments and methods thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art using the teachings disclosed herein.
Powell, Austin McCoy, Patel, Ishavarbhal, Hanvey, Jimmy
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